Transfusion equipment



Jan. 26, 1943. w. F. BUTLER ETAL TRANSFUSION EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 8, 1941 l nl.

INVENTORS WILLIAM F BU TLEZ FEED H- CUTTER ATTORN EY Patente'i Jan. 26, 1943 TRANSFUSION EQUIPMENT William F. Butler, Berkeley, and Fred A. Cutter,

Oakland, Calif., asslgnors to Cutter Laboratories, Berkeley. Calif., a corporation of California Application September 8, 1941, Serial No. 409,944

14 Claims. (01. 128-214) This invention relates in general to a device for use in making blood transfusions and more particularly to a device for making the required connection between the donor of the blood and. the flask in which the blood is received, for enabling the flow of blood to be controlled, and for permitting the flask to be so held that a circular motion may be readily imparted to the base of the flask.

In making blood transfusions the blood is first drawn under the action of a partial vacuum into a flask containing a small quantity of sodium citrate solution for preventing the coagulation of the blood. In carrying out this operation it is necessary that the blood entering the flask be continually agitated with the sodium citrate solution. It is further highly desirable that the flow of blood from the donor into the flask be under absolute control at all times, for otherwise the rate at which the blood is taken from the donor might well be sufllcient to collapse the donor's blood vein, thereby causing him injury and pain and interrupting the flow of blood. Furthermore; it sometimes happens that the hypodermic needle is for some reason or other pulled away from the vain of the donor, making it necessary to quickly shut off the connecting tubing until the needle is readjusted.

The equipment now available for making blood transfusions is awkward to manipulate and requires a third hand except when being-operated by a skilled assistant. Frequently skilled assistants are not available, and at such times the danger and inconvenience to the patient resulting from improperly designed equipment are materially increased. One serious objection to transfusion equipment now available is that it does not permit an unobstructed flow of blood. and consequently the equipment has'a tendency to make the blood froth and coagulate.

In general, the object of this invention is the provision of a quickly detachable hand grip for supporting and oscillating a blood transfusion flask and for controlling the flow of blood through a section of tubing associated with the grip bv the use of a single digit of the hand so that the remaining digits are all available for holding and shaking the flask.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a hand grip formed with a lever actuated clamp for detachably seeming the hand grip rigidly to a flask.

A further object of the invention is a hand grip for a transfusion flask, provided with a bodily movable compression member for progres sively compressing a section of rubber tubing through which blood flows from the donor into the flask.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a hand grip fora rubber stoppered transfusion flask, having rigidly associated therewith a hypodermic needle arranged to pass through the flask stopper and in communication with a section of rubber tubing controlled by a thumb-operable valve associated with the hand grip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a transfusion valve and apparatus which permits the blood to flow at a controlled rate from the vein to the flask without passing through any sharp angles. This is important in a reducing frothing and clotting, two of the greatest diiflculties in securing a full quantity of blood from a donor. g

The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where that form of the invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of the present specification is outlined in full. In said drawing, one form of the invention is shown. but it is to be understood that it is not limited to such form, since the invention as set forth in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a grip embodying the objects of our invention in its operative position on a transfusion flask.

Figure 2 is apartial mid-section taken through Figure 1 in a plane parallel to the plane of the paper, but showing the compressor roller in its uppermost or open position.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the hand rip with the compression roller in its lowermost or closed position.

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of a hand grip as shown in either Figures 1 or 3.

As shown in these various figures, the combined valve and clamp of our invention is embodied in what may be, generally termed a hand grip l formed with an arcuate portion 2 adapted to be accommodated in the palm of the hand of the operator. Extending forwardly of the lower end of the arcuate portion 2 is a horizontal portion or ledge 3 terminating in 9. depending channel 4.

Clamped to the upper end of the channel 4 by a screw 5 and accommodated within the channel are the resilient extensions or arms 6 and 1 of a wire ring 8. Also accommodated within the channel 4 is a lever 8 terminating at its upper end in a flnser gri-p II and provided with a cut-out portion l2 for the reception of the resilient wire arms 8 and 'I. The lever 8 is formed with lateral wings I8 and I4, each pro-'- vided at its lower outer edge with a notch II for the reception of the ends of the wire ring 8. Due to the spring action of the arms 6 and 1, the lever 8 is heldwith its rear straight face in engagement with the inner face of the channel 4. Upon rotation of the lever 8 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figures 1 and 2 about its lower inner edge l6 as a fulcrum,

the arms 8 and 1 are first forced outwardly over a slight distance until the edge l8 passes above the ring 8, whereupon the arms 8 and 1 force or snap the lever to its dotted position as shown in Figure 2. In this latter position the foot of the lever 8 is fiush with the inner face of the channel 4 with its lower inner edge abutting a stop I! formed on the inner face of the channel 4. i The arms .6 and 'i therefore serve to snap the lever 8 into either its open or closed position and to increase or decrease the opening defined by the ring 8'and the rear face of the channel 4.

The ring 8 is so dimensioned that in its open position it may be made to pass over the bead l8 formed on the neck l8 of a flask 2 I. Upon rotating the lever 8 to its closed position, the neck of the flask is firmly clamped between the channel 4 and the ring 8.

Clamped to the horizontal portion 3 and extending through an aperture formed therein is a hypodermic needle 22 having its point in registration with and extending somewhat below the ring 8.

Hinged to the free end of the arcuate portion 2 of the hand grip is a supporting base member 23 provided with a bead 24 arranged to be sprung through an elongated opening 25 formed in the arcuate portion 2 and clipped over. the arcuate portion. The body of the base member 28 is spaced from the arcuate portion 2 and diverges therefrom, from right to left.

Connected to the hypodermic needle 22 is a section of flexible rubber tubing 26 which is threaded through apertures formed at each end of the base member 23 and is provided at its free end with a hypodermic needle 21;

Accommodated within the elongated opening 25 and arranged to slide over the upper section of the arcuate portion 2 which may be considered as a guide member, is a carriage consisting of a pair of spaced side members 28 carried by a pin 28 and formed with outwardly extending ears 8|.

The ears 3| and the pin 28 respectively overlie the upper and lower faces of the guide member. Journaled on the pin 28 intermediate the side members 28 is a knurled compression roller 32 arranged in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 1, to close off the rubber tubing26 and to progressively open the tubing as the roller travels to its uppermost position as shown in Figure 2. Formed on the lower side of the guide member at its lower end is a notch 33 for receiving the pin 28 and holding the compression roller in its closed position against the rubber tubing. By holding the arcuate portion 2 of the grip in, the palm of the hand with the index finger beneath the finger.

grip II, it will be found that the thumb may be conveniently made to overlie the compression roller 32 and that consequently the roller may be actuated by the thumb to control the flow of blood or other fluid through the tubing 28. Furthermore, the device forms a convenient grip for imparting a rotary motion to any flask to which it is clamped.

In applying this type of device to a flask, the ring 8 is extended by moving the lever 8 to its lowermost position as shown in Figure 2. This having been done, the hypodermic needle 22 is passed through the rubber stopper 84 of the flask and then the ring 8 is clamped around the neck of the bottle by simply raising the lever 8 to its upper position.

The device as above described has the following advantages:

The clamp is quickly detachable from the flask, forms a rigid connection therewith, and obviates the use of threads in the neck of the flask which are subject to breakage. The lever 8 by which the clamp is actuated also serves as a balanced support for the combined flask and clamp so that if the device is suspended from the finger grip H, the flaskwill assume a substantially vertical position. The advantage of this feature can be appreciated by bearing in mind that a circular movement must be continuously imparted to the base of the flask during the entire interval that blood is being drawn into it so thatthe blood will be thoroughly mixed with the citratesolution in order to prevent its coagulation. The support or frame for the roller valve, with the finger grip, to gether form a hand grip for the device by means of which the valve may be readily actuated by the thumb to control the flow of blood through the tubing. By supporting the hypodermic needle from the hand grip, it is held securely in place within the flask stopper. Since the needle has no valve built into itas is the case of some equipment now on the market, the needle can be readily cleaned. It should also be noted that the rubber tubing is supported by the hand grip so as to be free of any abrupt turns, and this is of considerable advantage for the reason that abrupt turns hypodermic needle rigidly result in surges in the flow of blood. and a certain amount of frothing, both of which are undesirable.

We claim: l l. A hypodermic needle adapted to pierce the closure ofa flask; a quickly detachable clamp for rigidly securing said needle to said flask with said needle piercing said closurej a section of flexible tubing secured to said hypodermic needle; and means integral with said clamp for controlling the flow of liquid through said section of rubber tubmg.

2. In combination: a arranged to be clamped quickly detachable clamp to a flask; a hypodermic .needle rigidly supported by said clamp and arranged to piercethe stopper of said flask upon the application of said clamp to the neck of said flask; a section of flexible tubing secured to said hypodermic needle; and means carried by said clamp for controlling the flow of liquid through said section of flexible tubing.

3. A quickly detachable clamp for holding a secured through the stopper of a flask, comprising: a vertical member arranged to contact a peripheral portion of the neck of a flask; a vertical spring secured at its upper end to the upper end of said vertical member; a loop secured to the lower end of said spring and arranged to surround said vertical member and the neck of a flask; a lever associated with said vertical member and said spring for moving and locking the lower end of said spring away from the lower end of said vertical member, thereby to lock the neck of a flask between said loop and said vertical member; a downwardly extending hypodermic needle supported by said vertical member in alignment with said loop; a section of flexible tubing secured to said hypodermic needle; and means carried by said vertical member for controlling the flow oi. liquid through said section of flexible tubing.

4. In combination: a hand grip; quickly detachable means supported by said grip for securing said grip rigidly to a container; a section of flexible tubing supported by said grip; means for establishing communication between said tubing and said container; and a valve mounted on said hand grip for controlling the flow of liquid through said tubing.

5. In combination: an arcuate hand grip adapted to beheld in the palm of the hand; a quickly detachable clamp depending from said grip for securing said grip rigidly to a container: a section of flexible tubing supported on its lower side by said hand grip and provided with means for establishing communication between said tubing and said container; and a thumb-operated compression roller slidably mounted on said hand grip over a portion said tubing and arranged upon sliding movement progressively to compress said tubing.

6. In combination: a hand grip; means for detachably securing said grip rigidly to a container; a hypodermic needle rigidly secured to and depending from said grip; a section of flexible tubing supported by a portion of said grip and secured at one end to said hypodermic needle; and a valve associated with said grip for controlling the flow of liquid through said tubing.

'1. A combination hand grip, flask clamp, and valve for controlling the flow o1 fluids into a stoppered flask, comprising: a clamp for detachably securing said hand grip rigidly to a flask; a hypodermic needle rigidly secured to and depending from said grip in registration with said clamp; a base member associated with said grip; a section of flexible tubing supported on said base member and secured at one end to said bypodermic needle; and a compression member mounted on said grip and arranged progressively to compress said tubing from its open position to its closed position.

8. A combination hand grip, flask clamp, and valve for controlling the flow of fluids through flexible tubing, comprising: a clamp for detachably securing said hand grip rigidly to a flask; spaced and converging base and guide members associated with said grip; a section of flexible tubing supported between said base and guide members and having one of its ends terminating in means for establishing communication between the interior oi said flask and said tubing; and a compression member movable along said guide member over and in contact with said tubing, progressively to compress said tubing trom a fully open to a completely closed position.

9. In combination: a sioppered flask: a hand grip and a valve for controlling the flow of fluids through a flexible tubing communicatingwith the interior of said flask, comprising: a clamp associated with said hand grip for detachably securing said grip rigidly to the flask; spaced and converging base and guide members associated with said grip; a section oi! flexible tubing supported between said base and guide members and having one of its ends terminating in means for establishing communication between the interior of the flask and the tubing; and a compression member movable along said guide member over and in contact with said tubing, progressively to compress said tubing.

10. A combination hand grip, flask clamp, and valve for controlling the flow of fluids into a stoppered flask, comprising a hand grip: a clamp for detachably securing said hand grip rigidly to a flask; a hypodermic needle rigidly secured to said grip in registration with said clamp; spaced and converging base and guide members associated with said grip; a section of flexible tubing secured at one end to said needle and supported between said base and guide members; and a compression member associated with and movable along said guide member over and in contact with said tubing so as progressively to compress said tubing from a fully open to a completely closed position.

11. A combination hand grip, flask clamp, and valve for controlling the flow o! fluids into a stoppered flask, comprising a hand grip: a clamp for detachably securing said hand grip rigidly to a flask; a hypodermic needle rigidly secured to and depending from said grip in registration with said clamp; spaced and converging base and guide members associated with said rip; B Se tion of flexible tubing secured at one end to said needle and supported between said base and guide members; a carriage slidable along said guide member; and a compression member carried by said carriage and adapted upon movement of the carriage along the guide member, progressively to compress said flexible tubing from a iully open to a completely closed position.

12. A section of hose; a hollow needle in communication with one end of said hose; a hose compression member secured to said hollow needle and operably associated with said hose (or controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

13. A stoppered container; a hollow needle extending through the container stopper: a section of hose in commimication with said needle; and ahosecompressionvalverigid lsecuredtosaid needle and operably associated with said hose, tor controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

14. A partially evacuated container: a hollow j needle establishing communication with the interior of said container; a section of hose communicating with said need1e:and a hose compression member rigidly secured to said needle and operably with said hose for controlling the flow of fluidtherethmugh.

WILLIAM F. BUTLER. mm A. CU'I'I'IR. 

